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Author
Topic: Well, SH*T! (Read 5473 times)

Thanks to the relative anonymity that the internet offers, I need to ask a question that I need some help with. Over the past month, something I find utterly gross has happened twice. While I was sleeping, I twice passed gas only to find that it wasn't gas. One night I was up for the next two hours doing laundry. For me, this has been a personally humiliating experience.

I was really caught completely by surprise since "health-wise" I've been doing well except for a huge amount of stress which I suspect may have something to do with it (not to mention the Kaletra) .

I've always been uncomfortable discussing feces with anyone let alone when it is in regards to me and even worse, feeling so out of control about the whole thing. I am aware of how this is nothing more than a bodily function, blah, blah, blah but I have an almost excruciating inability to ask my doctor whom I know should be made aware of this. Any suggestions on how I might bring it up with my doctor? I'm afraid that at the very least in the process of just setting up an appointment, that I might have to divulge certain info to an assistant or nurse and while that might seem a small price to pay, it has continued to keep me from contacting my PCP.

Yeah Marc, your doctor and his office will be MORE than familiar with the Kaletra Liquid Shits. There is absolutely no reason to be embarrassed and suffer in silence. I second matty's imodium suggestion, so go buy some tonight at your local store. You can also get it prescribed to you as "loperamide." When I was taking Kaletra I even at times went up to 10mg per each Kaletra dose (though I was also on Invirase so my shits were doubly bad). Anyway, you very well may need to take more than one or two. Start off with a couple per dose and adjust it as needed. These things often aren't an instant remedy so give it a couple of days.

If you're still unhappy your doctor will be able to suggest stronger things. You really need to address this though because it also is possible that your body is not absorbing your HIV meds adequately during these poppie days.

Sometimes I think they should just integrate some sort of imodium component to all Kaletra pills.

Here, here!

Thanks guys. I actually have Loperamide but quit taking it a long time ago as this particular s(h)ituation never occurred before and I really felt that I have had great control over my bowels. Like I said it's a relatively recent occurrence while I've been taking the Kaletra now for over two years.

I guess I'm just going to have to knuckle up, get some balls and ask some stuff.

Don't be ashamed to talk about this with the nurse or assistant. They've seen it all, heard it all. You can say something like "night diarrhea" with the nurse/assistant and then go in details with the doctor. At least you'll have pinpointed the location of the problem without divulging too much detail.

Thanks guys. I actually have Loperamide but quit taking it a long time ago as this particular s(h)ituation never occurred before and I really felt that I have had great control over my bowels. Like I said it's a relatively recent occurrence while I've been taking the Kaletra now for over two years.

I guess I'm just going to have to knuckle up, get some balls and ask some stuff.

Thanks again.

Actually, the first thing your doctor should do is a stool test to rule out other issues, and if he/she is like mine they will. If you let this go instead of nipping it in the bud it can also cause social anxiety issues where you're afraid of spontaneous anal combustion while out in public. Trust me -- you don't want to go there with the panic attacks. It's not pretty.

I never had trouble at night, but during the 6 years that I was on Invirase, I had my share of troubles. Every day, mid-morning, I would make the urgent "run" to the bathroom at work. My doctor suggested taking Imodium every morning as part of my "regular" routine. I was taking 18 Invirase pills a day, and only took a half dose of Imodium each morning (1 pill instead of 2). In about three days I was fine, no more urgent dashes to the bathroom. I felt such a sense of relief!!

I know this is a topic that is difficult for some to discuss, but really, taking one Imodium pill each morning was a lifesaver for me. Kept me regular from there on out. Perhaps you should try it.

Also, if concerned about telling the nurses on the phone what you want to see the doc for, can't you just lie? Tell them you have been having trouble sleeping, or your stomach has been upset. Once you get in there and have some privacy with the doc, then you can tell the true story. I would certainly NOT have a problem doing that if I felt awkward over the entire thing.

Marc when I first started Kaletra this happened twice... I then used Amodium or even Metamucil which actually works in reverse for some reason... I also take meds before bedtime with cereal... I quit the Amodium and meta after about a month and the cereal seems to keep things going well...... Tell me how you keep from farting your ass off and I will be really happy....

Been there, but not with Kaletra. When I took Saquinavir I had the worst bowel issues I have ever experienced.

I didn't just mess the bed, I blew the blankets off in the process.

Imodium helped somewhat, but in the end, I switched meds. They changed the formula now, so I don't know how Invirase does for folks.

As far as talking about it with the doc, I was like you - in the beginning. I was rather shy about talking about poopie. About the third time I messed my pants while frantically dashing home, hoping to make it before something happened and failing, I lost that inhibition.

Mark is right, you need to speak to your doctor about this. Use the 'technical terms' if that makes you feel more comfortable.....

I think most of us have experienced bed-messing at some point (and car messing and chair messing.....) Back in my days of Viracept, I often sped up to 70 and 80 mph in town, trying to race home to the toilet. Sometimes, I didn't make it.

Unfortunately for me with Truvada, now the opposite is true. Have to o.d. on fiber supplements, and then take some kind of herbal "stimulant" to get any results (right now, I'm using Swiss Kriss, anyone tried that?)

We should come up with a 'badge system' like the boyscouts. Wear them as a mark of honor. You crapped your bed? Good you get a nice patch to sew on your jacket. Forgot a dose of meds? You get one for that too. You have an AIDS-defining O.I., you get a purple heart with a red ribbon on it......well you get my drift.

Good luck!

hugs,Alan

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"Remember my sentimental friend that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." - The Wizard of Oz

Here is a way I get around talking to the appointment scheduler at my doctor.....

"I am on my cell phone in a public place and would rather not discuss why I need to see the doctor, but I am in urgent need of an appointment and I do have a chronic medical condition which at times requires the assistance of my doctor." This gets me an appointment without having to tell him/her why.

I feel you pain. It has happened to me, once in the hospital .... talk about embarrassing. I was VERY careful with farts when I was on Kaletra, now, though, thanks to Reyetaz and let them fly without worry.

This one really hits home with me for I have been dealing with this since June. I have not been on any meds in over two years and the 3 years that I was, diarrhea was the ONLY side effect I did not have.

My point is, I did not realize there were so many different causes of diarrhea until I started doing some research of my own. It well may be just a side effect from the meds but I agree with the others that the best thing is to rule out anything more serious for peace of mind.

I had the stool testing done and a colonoscopy and, in my case, nothing showed up but at least now I know there is not another serious condition going on.

Like many others, I know how uncomfortable it is to deal with this and I wish you the Best of Luck and "Better Days Ahead".

I had this problem when I had the wasting syndrome like 13 or 14 years ago. I would wake up at night, try to sprint to the bathroom and the "shit would fly." My doctor prescribed me Lommotil, which didnot work. Immodium works so much better. But I chime in with the rest on seeing if there is some other nasty bug causing the poops. Please get to your doctor. Like the others have said, I'm sure he's heard much worse.

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I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

When I got my dx, before I even had my first set of labs, my doc was discussing some of the meds with me. He singled out Kaletra as a causer of bed shits! Needless to say I am less than anxious to try it when the time comes to start meds

I just want to thank everyone who has responded. While I knew this would become an issue at some point, I hoped it wouldn't. I guess on some level it made me feel like Marc (my perception of who I am at least) was becoming even more out of control. I hate that feeling. Of course you've all helped to bring things into perspective a little more and that's something that I'm very grateful for.

Dare I say it? Pardon the pun but, Thanks for sharing!

I went ahead and made an appointment with my doc for the 17th and hopefully I can find out what has been causing the issue. I strongly suspect it to be more stress related than anything.

When I got my dx, before I even had my first set of labs, my doc was discussing some of the meds with me. He singled out Kaletra as a causer of bed shits! Needless to say I am less than anxious to try it when the time comes to start meds